there and back again

What a perfect festival.
My fears about not putting myself fully into the prep of the festival being a threat to my full enjoyment of the festival were put aside.

I'm probably in the best shape emotionally coming out of this festival. I didn't overdo it before or during, so I'm not a wasted lump crying my face off grieving the passing of another festival. But, I'm still pretty sadfaced- I don't like it when it ends.
I hate going from true community and constant togetherness  back to my single gal life in my single gal house. On one hand I'm so glad to be away from people- I just want to stare at the wall for a few days and not talk to anyone- and on the other hand, I just need someone to hang onto me.

I don't really have a way to pull together all my thoughts from the festival... so this might be a little rambley.

Sure the weather was weird and rainy at first, but pardon the pun, it didn't put a damper on it.

I went out to the site on Thursday and helped with some kitchen prep- I didn't realize how much I missed the pre-festival kitchen till I was in the middle of creating a VAT of hummus surrounded by other cheery cooks chopping carrots and grilling ground chicken.  Happy people, singing and cooking and visiting.

I went home Thursday night- which was hard, Thursday and Sunday night are generally my favorite campfires- but I knew the pooch needed some attention before I dragged him off to the doggie daycare. (Doggie daycare is a whole other story)

Friday arrived. Artists arrived, set up happened without a hitch. People created pretty things, looked at pretty things. The village worked really well. I feel a little bad that after Saturday lunch I pretty much abandoned the village- each time I was there, there was nothing for me to do- so eventually I stopped checking in. oops.

The music all weekend was fantastic.
Camping in the trailer with Manda was lovely.
Campfires were... healing to the soul.

I did discover something though- I'm not really there for the music. I'm there for the community. I'm there for the conversations. I'm there for the intimacy between friends and loves. I'm there for the special moments. I'm there for the teamwork overcoming challenges.

The shared.
That's what I'm there for.

CAPS LOCK

I'M GOING TO WINTER FOLK CAMP
I'M GOING TO WINTER FOLK CAMP


I was trying to think about the last time I was so excited to go to camp... there were the joycamp years- I went as techie support, running the sound system for the jr youth program and creating a "year book" of sorts for them... oh dear, that was fun... but not "stare at the clock every two minutes" type excitement....
That hasn't happened since the MCCR years.

(side note: is anyone listening to CBC2 morning this morning? Tom is hanging hard to the Newf accent this morning... it's KILLING me.)

I think I'm going to have to do some digging in the old MCCR picture files... whew, I've just been hit by some memories.

Anyway, I'm forever in debt to the amazing Eve Goldberg for this opportunity. I've wanted to go to this even for the past 4 years, but every time I'd start saving for it- something would come along that needed the money... eeeeeek!

Shutting down the social media for the weekend...

blue sky days

I haven't cut the lawn since pre-festival.

needless to say, it's getting to be like a hay field.

'Touff is happy about it. Fynn is annoyed with it. It towers over Fynn... he spends all his time pushing at it, hoping it'll move out of his way. Jelly steps over it gingerly.

I need two things to happen. I need the sun to shine, and I need to find a mower to borrow.

**photo from the ratpack camping trip. good times had by all, even by Miss Jelly... once I figured out she needed to be wrapped like a burrito at night to beat the cold.

photo recap. How to camp.

figure a: How to start the morning camping.

Figure b: What to do while camping



figure b.2: What also to do when camping.

figure c: What to do at the end of the day camping.


-the more you know....

under the trees, I felt my heart happy

I went camping.

And now I wish that I didn't have to be home.

In fact.... all I want is to be back out there... not that I'm the best camper... it was noted that I've become increasingly skittish around campsite critters... I was willing to jump up on the picnic table when Mr.Coon made his arrival- and the single appearance of a june bug had me jittering for quite awhile (hoodie fully drawn!). But, it was more the whole group of people I was with.

I went with some friends from university- people that I've stayed in touch with over the years, and who were very important to me while I was at school.

I was hit by something big (well, not as big as the BMW that hit Frase- but that's another story) this weekend.
I haven't been able to shake the feeling of it

I'd forgotten how good it felt to be with friends that had a similar world view- friends from a similar set of experiences- friends with similar tastes- friends with similar interests... Friends that I could relate to on several levels, and who could challenge/stimulate me ...
I need to make it clear... I LOVE my friends/peers that I have here at home... but there's something to be said about the relationships that are built in the nurturing environment found in similarities... vs. the friendships that grow out of proximity.

I read this.. and it sounds horrible. Like I'm unhappy with the friends I'm with here in the 'Burg... not the case..
I just remembered this weekend what it means to be in relationship.

I don't really want to settle for less.

oops

I'm feeling particularly sad for my garden boxes... they just aren't getting the loving they need lately. (read: everything is in desperate need of a transplant)
BUT....
for some reason... nothing has really died (well, other than the Zucchis - but I blame the rabbits for that one.)

I'm out again this weekend... it's true, the long awaited camping trip is a go!
I thought for sure we'ed cancel yet another year's lakeside enjoyment!

WET

although the camping was cancelled, it was for a good reason. Please pray for my friend T who's Dad just passed away, it's going to be rough for the next bit for her....

BUT... because camping is cancelled, many other things have sprung up in it's place. Including, but not limited to .... A concert tonight (never turn down the opportunity to hear two men passionate about their ukuleles), a JOB INTERVIEW Friday morning... which, as my program manager said "I hope you get it, it's doing the same job you're doing now, but you'll be able to focus on the individuals without all the extra stuff here, I'm sorry that I wasn't able to do that for you." (WOW!). BBQ Friday night with the house group rats, SVFF meeting type thingy sometime this weekend, camping in the Baltimore valley perhaps... I was told I could make pancakes on the campfire, so I may set my tent up (if the rain stops) if the rain doesn't stop, I have some movies to catch up on. A "church at our house" dinner, three mornings to sleep in, the possibility to go pick up my Flemish giant bunny (wondering if I should wait for the next litter as Fynn-Fynn isn't fixed yet) And hopefully a visit to Kaw and Caleb who are home from China for the month.
PHEW!!!
There's more, but it's slipped my mind.


ok, so this isn't one of the guys, but for those of you mocking the uke.....

stuff

there are days when you just want to scream.
there are days when you just need to cry.

the past couple of weeks have been pretty emotional.
and pretty hard.

I've been holding out for this camping weekend for awhile, knowing that it'd be a great time away, with some trusted friends. Spiritually, emotionally recharged, I'd be ready to face anything.

It's been cancelled.

So, today, we're going to talk about the practicalities vs the impracticalities of a little thing I like to call "ditch camping".

Ditch camping is when all else has failed, so you find a nice ditch somewhere in the country.
Choice spots should be relatively dry, and unditch-like :: there shouldn't be too much garbage, avoid dead animals and hobos.
Ditches provide shelter in wind and dust storms, and in the case of a tornado, you'll be below ground level and safer than most. Ditches DO often flood. So don't camp in the rain.
You don't have to actually put your tent up in a ditch.. you can just lay the tent over you while you sleep if that's easier. Also, you don't have to go far to use the bathroom, as more than likely, you'll be in some sort of biological mess/waste.